Category: Health

3 Ways Debt Affects Your Health on an Emotional Level

Whether you have a big loan or a small one, it is going to affect you emotionally and lead to psychological problems. Based on the findings of CreditsCards.com, an average US citizen has a whopping $15,950 in credit card debt and another 39 percent of Americans carry their credit card loans for several months. When it comes to college students, they have $40,000 loans and those pursuing graduation or higher education may have more debts than you can imagine. This is why many students look to refinancing their student loans, by getting advice from websites like https://www.sofi.com/refinance-student-loan/, so they aren’t left with high-interest levels to deal with alongside their hefty loans.

According to a poll by the Federal Reserve Board, at least one out of five borrowers in the country owes more than $50,000 in student loans and another 5.6 percent owe $100,000 or more. Now, all such debts have an emotional impact on your health, affect your mood, behavior, and could make you unwell over the years if you do not pay off your debts on time.

Debts may affect people differently. One individual may suffer from depression and anxiety for a debt of just $2,000 while another person may only worry when his or her debt builds up to $300,000. According to an article published on https://www.cnbc.com, an individual’s depressive feelings and negative behavior have a tendency to increase when their short-term debt increases. For your better understanding, here are three ways debt affects your health on an emotional level:

1. Bitterness

A debt will give you a hard time when you have a family with kids, in a relationship or partnership. You may resent your partner when you have too many loans to pay off to your creditors. Many borrowers blame their spouse for the debts, accusing the other of not working to support the relationship, not earning enough money, or complaining about the others spending habits. The bitterness and resentment are very common among those drowned in debt, especially those with a single income to make both ends meet.

Putting all responsibility for the money borrowed on the other partner may lead to divorce. Based on the findings of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, huge loans have multiple effects on a family’s emotional health. It is not only the partners who are blamed but also employers for not giving enough salary or not approving an increment on time. You may even feel bitter towards the members of your family, friends, and colleagues when you have a debt to pay off. The dependent family members are the worst sufferers because they feel they are a burden on the person taking a loan. All these factors contribute to your poor psychological health.

2. Frustration

Debt is not easy to accept irrespective of your personal journey. The situation worsens when you fail to repay your loans and the things get out of control. The banks and lending agencies bombard you with emails and phone calls. They speak to your rudely and there is also an exchange of abusive words leading you to frustration and depression. The worst time comes when collection agents come to your house to force you to pay your debts immediately and warns you of dire consequences. It not only affects you emotionally but also takes a toll on your social standing and self-esteem. Your neighbors look down upon you.

To get out of such a situation, you can opt for a lender with flexible payment terms and combine all your loans into one single payment. Yes, you can look up lending institutions on the internet with positive debt consolidation reviews from their customers. Consolidated loans help you pay off your old debts faster than traditional loans and that too with a reasonable rate of interest.

It is still fine if you have a student loan for earning a degree. Once you get a well-paid job, you can repay the debt and start living happily. However, when you have hugs debts accumulating due to credit card shopping, vacations, and expensive dinners, you are in a big soup. Repaying such debts is not easy if you do not have enough cash. You can suffer from fits of depression and frustration when you have huge debts accumulating owing to a sudden loss of a job, identity theft, divorce, or major medical expenditure in your family. Based on the findings of Nerd Wallet, 56 million US adults are having a tough time to repay their medical bills. These medical emergencies are one of the reasons for bankruptcy in the country.

3. Humiliation and indignity

Money, wealth, and material possessions are the parameters that judge whether you are a successful individual or not. If you have too many loans to pay and with limited monthly income, you feel humiliated, ashamed, and suffer from complexes that you cannot maintain your family or provide the comforts your spouse expects. Your poor finances are preventing you from eating out, watching movies, going on trips abroad, shopping, and things like that. Such embarrassment leads to emotional conditions like depression, anxiety, stress, anger, and unfortunately to a nervous breakdown.

There are many students in the country plagued with humiliation and indignity, as they are deep down in student loans. They feel ashamed and bouts of depression and mood swings. The American Psychological Association has revealed all such information related to debts and its effect on human health.

When you are in debt, you cannot discuss this taboo topic with others. The borrowers do not want their friends and family to know about their financial distress and poor emotional health. Based on the findings of CreditCard.com, 85 percent of the participants felt uneasy to discuss their credit card loans. That is because we all try to show that we are financially affluent and happy with our lives, debt-free. You still buy expensive gifts for your spouse, friends, and incur expenses to match the spending habits of people around you. There is no end to your debt and the consequences related to it unless you repay your loan. The best solution is paying off your creditors. Keep humiliation, indignity, and nervous breakdown away.

Conclusion

Now that you know about how debts can take a toll on you emotionally and even lead to a nervous breakdown, start paying off your loans immediately.

Author Bio

Marina Thomas is a marketing and communication expert. She also serves as a content developer with many years of experience. She helps clients in long-term wealth plans. She has previously covered an extensive range of topics in her posts, including Money Saving, Budgeting, Cryptocurrency, Business debt consolidation, Business, and Start-ups.

Healthy Nutrition Essentials for Older Adults

As much as you could be looking forward to finishing your career and enjoying retirement, getting older probably doesn’t get you very excited. It often brings many challenges and to be able to enjoy your senior time, it’s important you find that fine balance between proper nutrition and an active and healthy lifestyle.

Here are several facts and guidelines that can be helpful in achieving your goals.

Challenges of older age

Older age brings inevitable changes to the body and mind and many seniors experience memory loss, irritability, behavioral changes, physical difficulties and loss of appetite. In addition, certain prescribed medications may cause side effects such as nausea, insomnia, decreased the sense of taste and smell which can all discourage you from putting an effort towards healthy eating.

One way around this problem is joining an elderly retirement facility whereas a resident, you will be relieved of any maintenance work and housework, but you will be given full support when it comes to medical help and advice regarding nutrition, health, and overall well-being.

For instance, at this contemporary dementia care facility, you will receive a holistic approach and will be provided with a full individualized care plan according to your specific needs, including a daily offer of well-balanced meals, rehabilitation and lifestyle programmes.

Healthy nutrition essentials

Well-balanced nutrition means you should include carbohydrate-rich foods, protein-rich foods and at least five portions of fruits and vegetables a day. You also need to make sure you incorporate healthy fatty acids, iron, calcium, fibre, vitamins C, D, B12, magnesium, and you should drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Dehydration in senior age is dangerous as it may cause confusion and drowsiness. In addition to moderate daily physical activity, sufficient water intake plays an important role in maintaining good health.

Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for all ages, but particularly for the senior generation as they prevent inflammation that may cause heart diseases, cancer, and arthritis. It also reduces the risks of Alzheimer’s and slows down the progression of AMD.

The recommended dose of omega-3 fatty acids that can be found in soybeans, flaxseed, walnuts and various type of fish is three servings weekly, and you can also consult your doctor regarding supplements.

Essential vitamins and minerals

Vitamins and minerals are essential micronutrients that the body needs to work properly and eating healthy, balanced and various meals will ensure you get all you need.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that has an important role in preventing heart diseases and cancer, in bone and teeth repair and wound healing. Its main sources are many fruits and vegetables, as well as supplements recommended by your doctor.

Vitamin D aids calcium absorption and helps maintain bone density which prevents osteoporosis.  It’s also influential in protecting against diabetes 2, MS, cancer and rheumatoid osteoporosis. It is produced when your skin is exposed to sunlight, but it should also be consumed through salmon, tuna, eggs, cereal, milk, and yogurt.

Calcium is a mineral so essential that in case of deficiency, your body will start reabsorbing it from your own bones which can lead to osteoporosis. For seniors, the RDA of calcium is 1200mg which is around 4 cups of calcium enriched almond milk, juice or soy.

Vitamin B12 is crucial for preserving red blood cell production and nerve function, but as you age, absorbing it from food like poultry and meat products becomes more difficult so you need the addition of various supplements.

Foods rich in fibre

In older age, the digestive system typically slows down due to the thickening of walls in the gastrointestinal tract which typically leads to constipation as the bowel movement becomes slower. Fibre-rich foods, such as whole grain wheat products, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and brown rice, can stimulate better digestion.

In order to be able to enjoy your senior years in happiness, comfort and good health, you need to have proper, well-balanced nutrition and stay active.

Do You Want to Live in a Clean Environment? Say Yes to Recycling Today

Everyone dreams of green earth where they can breathe in the fresh air and walk on clean streets. Pollution and other wastes are enough to pollute the air and dirty the environment. One of the most common yet underrated ways to attain a better environment is recycling. But not everyone today has realized the significance of this process. And this also brings us to an important question.

Can you recycle everything?

Perhaps not all materials can be recycled! And to gain clarity, you need to get in touch with an ace local recycling service provider. Here you can visit 27 Recycling Miami center for more information.

Today, most goods and products contain a recyclable mark on the packaging. However, you need to ensure one thing. That is, if the disposal containers are having recyclable goods, will undergo the recycling or will result in increased landfills. A recycling center that would landfill the waste products is not where you should approach.

An expert recycling service provider will work towards freeing up landfill space, minimize pollution and energy waste. Some ways in which a recycling center contributes to a safer and clean environment are as follows:

1. It helps to conserve the essential resources

During the recycling process, the used materials get transformed into brand new products. It minimizes the requirement to take up natural resources. When the used materials don’t get recycled, the brand-new products get developed by taking up fresh resources from the planet, through forestry and mining. Hence, a systematic recycling process is essential to preserve the earthly resources. It also secures the natural habitat for the future.

2. Recycling helps to save energy

When you make use of recycled materials for a manufacturing process, then it needs less energy to produce brand new products, using the raw materials. The energy consumption is less even when you compare all the related expenses that comprise of transport. Additionally, you have increased energy savings. It is because you need extra energy for refining, extracting, processing and transporting the raw materials that are all set for the industry in comparison to offering industry-ready materials.

3. It helps to minimize landfill to a great extent

During the recycling process, recyclable products usually get reprocessed in new products. Hence, as a natural outcome, the percentage of rubbish that’s sent to the landfill sites gets minimized. Today, you will come across several landfill sites all over the world. Here’s an interesting fact – back in 2001, the landfill sites led to large methane emission. It is one of the potent greenhouse gas emissions.

4. It secures the environment

If we have to take baby steps to secure our Earth and the environment, recycling should be our first step. It ensures that there is no waste in the landfills and other places. When the earth gets free from the toxic waste, the planet becomes greener and safer place.

These are some of the essential advantages of recycling. From small bags, industrial equipment to household appliances everything can get recycled to develop something new. You simply need to get in touch with the correct service provider.

Healthy Nutrition Essentials in Golden Age

There are many age-related factors that can affect changes in our nutritional intake as we age. We get less active, we develop poorer digestion, our senses decrease (due to meds or natural processes) and our teeth may deteriorate. However, people of all ages need proper nutrition to keep their body strong and healthy and their mind sharp. So, here are a few healthy nutrition tips for seniors.

Foods full of omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are important for all people, seniors especially because they help keep all types of inflammations at bay. They can also slow down Macular Degeneration that leads to impaired vision as well as reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. These fatty acids can be found in fish, mainly tuna, mackerel, salmon and sardines. Beans, nuts, and seeds like walnuts, flaxseeds, and soybeans are also rich in omega-3. Experts recommend eating omega-3 rich foods at least twice a week, but supplements are also available (consult with your health provider before getting started, though).

Foods rich in calcium

If you’re not getting enough calcium through your diet, your body will start to absorb it from your bones which results in fragile and brittle bones that lead to osteoporosis. Foods that are rich in calcium are mainly milk, cheese, yogurt and other dairy products. However, veggies like leafy greens and calcium-fortified cereals are also a good option. People above the age of 50 should consume 1200 mg of calcium a day (4 cups of milk, soy, almond milk or fortified orange juice).

Fibre-rich foods

As we age, our digestion slows down. Our gastrointestinal tract contractions are slower and fewer which leads to constipation. However, foods rich in fibre improve digestion thanks to their easy movement through the bowel. So, make sure to eat plenty of nuts, whole grain products (whole grain bread, pasta, and brown rice), fruits and veggies, all of which are widely available. Even if you need to be assisted living services, you can find good retirement homes with a diverse food selection. For example, Mark Moran Vaucluse aged care provides its residents with various breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, offering them the freedom to tailor their diet the way your body requires.

Iron-rich foods

Iron has a very important role in the human body. It’s responsible for hemoglobin production which transports oxygen throughout the body. If you skip on iron-rich foods, your oxygen supply in your tissues can decrease and cause fatigue and lethargy (also known as anemia).

Foods rich in potassium

Many older people don’t take enough potassium (the recommended dose is 4700mg per day). However, potassium keeps the blood pressure at bay, helps cell function and lowers the chances of developing kidney stones. Potassium is mainly found in fruit and veggies like prunes, bananas, and potatoes. Too much potassium is also an issue, so if you’re considering starting taking supplements, make sure to consult with your doctor.

Proper hydration

With age, the human body starts to lose the ability to conserve water, so you stop feeling as thirsty as before. However, the need for water doesn’t disappear. Dehydration is a serious issue that causes confusion, drowsiness, and many other health issues. Drinking enough fluids is especially important if you eat plenty of fibre since it absorbs water. In order to improve your water intake (8 glasses a day is the recommended quantity), grab a reusable bottle and sip it throughout the day.

Proper nutrition in your golden years is one of the best things you can do for your health. Food is what keeps us happy, healthy, strong and sharp, so don’t let old age affect your lifestyle. Today, the food selection is bigger and better than ever before, with well-stocked markets, top-notch retirement homes and even delivery services you can sign up for, so there are really no excuses not to eat well and be mindful of your diet.

Workout Outfit: Pros and Cons of Wearing It Outside the Gym

Everyone knows that athleisure is one of the hottest trends nowadays, as millions of people from different generations have gone completely crazy about it. Apart from the gym, they love to wear their workout outfits even when they aren’t exercising – while shopping, hanging out with their friends, or having lunch in their favorite restaurant. If you want to learn about the pros and cons of wearing workout outfits outside the gym, just stay with us and keep on reading. Check them out and get properly informed!

Pro #1: Gym clothes are obviously extremely comfy

As already mentioned, a lot of people love to wear their workout clothes outside the gym, and the reasons for that are more than good. First of all, the athleisure trend is still going strong, which means that garments such as yoga pants, oversized hoodies, and colorful socks are a huge hit in the fashion industry nowadays. Besides that, such clothes are very comfortable at the same time, which is exactly what makes them so popular among people of all ages. Needless to say, thousands of celebrities, fashion bloggers, and other trendsetters love to wear their workout outfits even when they leave the gym, so give them a try, too, and you’ll see how comfy they are!

Con #1: Workout clothes can sometimes be quite inappropriate

Even though workout clothes are usually quite figure-flattering, the fact is that these can sometimes be a bit inappropriate – especially when it comes to the business environment. Yes, we can agree that some types of yoga pants can resemble a classic pair of trousers, but you know what? You should definitely skip your favorite yoga pants simply because they aren’t office-friendly. On the other hand, a lot of people tend to wear too revealing clothes such as shorts or tank tops, and these are more than perfect for their workouts. However, you should stay away from them outside the gym, as these can look a bit tacky and vulgar. Just stick to your regular outfits and you won’t make a mistake!

Pro #2: Sneakers are far more comfortable than dress shoes

When it comes to footwear, you shouldn’t be surprised at all by the fact that sneakers such as men’s Adidas are far more popular than any pair of dress shoes. First of all, sneakers are undoubtedly much more comfortable than elegant shoes that are highly likely to pinch your feet, which is an important advantage that mustn’t be overlooked. Apart from that, these are more beneficial from an anatomical point of view, too, as these provide more support to your feet than regular dress shoes. Do we even have to emphasize that sneakers are one of the trendiest pieces at the moment? Not really, so be sure to buy a pair according to your personal preferences and upgrade your casual combos like a true pro!

Con #2: Synthetic fabrics aren’t as beneficial as natural ones

In case you weren’t aware of it, workout clothes are often made from synthetic fabrics such as spandex, polyester, and nylon. Even though such fabrics are highly beneficial due to their breathability, durability, thermoregulation, and moisture management, the fact is that these aren’t the best choice when it comes to your outfits outside the gym. Yes, these man-made fabrics are beyond fabulous as they have quick-dry properties, but the truth is that these aren’t completely skin-friendly – especially if you have sensitive skin or some allergies. Besides that, they don’t absorb sweat, which means that they’ll stick to your body and make you feel quite uncomfortable in hot and humid weather.

As you can see, wearing your gym outfits outside the gym has both pros and cons, so bear our tips in mind if you want to do it right. Once that’s done, we’re sure that you’ll nail your everyday outfits by adding a touch of athleisure to them, so don’t wait any longer and you’ll see what we were talking about!

Why Going Gluten-Free May Be the Right Choice for You

It’s no secret that what we eat has a profound impact on how we feel, both physically and emotionally. The proverb “you are what you eat” didn’t stick by accident, after all. Unfortunately, not many heed this pearl of wisdom.

The problem is that people typically don’t pay all that much attention to their food and how it affects them on a daily basis. Many simply accept the symptoms of a diet that disagrees with them as a part of life, rather than try to deal with the issues that cause them.

On the bright side, there does seem to be increased awareness of the importance of a healthy nutrition plan. Gluten-free diets have been on the rise in popularity for quite some time now: just a few years ago, about one in hundred Americans reported ditching gluten.

While the reasons for this dietary decision may vary, there is one important factor for opting to go gluten-free. And this factor may be even more relevant than people think: celiac disease.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that is triggered by eating anything that contains gluten. In layman’s terms, the body reacts very aggressively to gluten, and the immune system goes into overdrive, attacking the small intestine.

Celiac disease is connected to a whole host of symptoms, and how one reacts to it varies greatly from one person to the next. Some may experience mildly annoying symptoms, while others might face debilitating difficulties.

There are up to 200 symptoms related to celiac disease, so we won’t list them all here. But we will give you the most common ones, maybe even some you’re currently suffering from. These include:

  • Stomach pain

  • Bloatedness

  • “Foggy mind” (inability to think clearly and focus in general)

  • Fatigue

  • Bone or joint pain

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Migraines

  • Numbness, tingling or pain in the extremities

On their own, these symptoms sound bad enough, but sadly it gets worse. Namely, few people know they have the disease. It’s estimated that only around 17 percent of Americans get diagnosed with celiac disease, leaving the vast majority of sufferers in the dark of their true condition.

One of the main reasons why so many people remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed is because it’s difficult to determine with absolute certainty that a person is afflicted with celiac disease. Since it manifests in so many different ways, it can be easily mistaken for other disorders, and someone suffering from its symptoms may not necessarily have it.

Though celiac disease remains one of the largest concerns of gluten-related health problems, there are other disorders to be on the lookout for. Wheat allergy and non-celiac gluten sensitivity can also be troublesome to live with. It’s true that these are typically milder, but they need to be addressed nevertheless.

A lot of folks suffer from these kinds of disorders but aren’t aware of it, and a gluten-free nutrition plan can be just what they need to turn a new leaf healthwise. In order for you to learn more about the benefits of gluten-free diets, MedAlertHelp has crafted this great infographic on the topic.

Virtually everything you need about the perks of a glutenless diet is in this gluten guide, and it doesn’t hold back on the stats. But don’t let that scare you, the graph is designed in a way that makes reading and remembering the numbers really easy. It takes out all the unnecessary elements and arranges them in easy-to-digest info chunks.

Better You: Clean Thoughts, Organic Food and Natural Living

No matter how glad we are to admit it, we all aim to live a better and healthier life. Wherever you look, you’ll see tips and advice on how to be your better self, but most of this advice is based on completely wrong information. In the end, this can make you feel like nothing you do is good enough, or that living healthy is more complicated than it actually is. It all comes down to the three most important components: positive thinking, healthy ingredients, and living the most natural life you can. When combined, these components can make you the healthiest and happiest person you’ve always wanted to be.

1. Be open with yourself

Clean thoughts start with you being open and honest with yourself. For too long, you’ve spent time hating or criticizing yourself for things that you simply weren’t strong enough to change or for something that wasn’t even your fault. This kind of harmful behavior ends today. It ends with the realization that you’re only human, and that we all make mistakes. What’s important is how we deal with these mistakes.

Admit to yourself everything that’s been bothering you, but don’t just assign blame. Understand why you are like you are and start working towards a solution. The things you can’t change should be accepted, as there is really no wrong way to be human.

Look yourself in the mirror and find all the things you like about yourself. Make yourself see that you are strong, confident and that you’re able to do everything you set your mind to. It’s going to be hard in the beginning, but with baby steps, you will have de-cluttered your mind of all negative thoughts. Another method that may help is meditation, as it has the power to surface your most buried thoughts and emotions. You can start working on them only when you’re aware of the problems.

2. Consider growing your own food

Proper nutrition is essential, but alas, you can’t really trust markets anymore. Most fruits and veggies are infused with chemicals to make them last longer and look more appealing. This just makes them less edible and more harmful for your body, though. The organic food they claim to have can end up being too expensive, but also prove not to be organic at all in some cases.

There is one simple solution to this problem: start your own garden. This way you’ll know exactly what you’re eating, it will be 100% organic, and you’ll be more eco-friendly. You can start small and then expand your garden as you get ahold of it. If you don’t have a yard, you can try growing it on the roof of your building, or even on your balcony. You’ll get to decide what veggies go in your garden and grow only the amount you’ll actually eat. This means you won’t be wasting any food or supporting the hungry and greedy food industry.

Your family will also be much healthier if they’re eating homegrown goods. Growing children will benefit from this the most. In the end, by starting your own veggie garden, you’ll be taking care of everything from health to nature. This is bound to make you more mentally stable and happier, too.

3. Exercise as part of your day

A proper diet means almost nothing without the right exercise regime to accompany it. By incorporating exercise to your daily routine, you’re also teaching your body to process stress better. What’s more, your upping the production of serotonin and dopamine, contributing to a better mood. All of this helps you stay positive and look at the bright side of life.

When there are no frustrations to hinder your mood, it’s much easier to stay relaxed and have a positive outlook on life. Suddenly, no problem will seem too big and no obstacle too great. You should have intense workout sessions three to four times a week, and do light exercise the rest of the time. This way you’ll keep your body moving, also keeping it fit and healthy.

Of course, you don’t want to overwork yourself. This is why it might be a good idea to introduce post workout proteins to your diet. The supplement can be easily added to your post-workout smoothie, thus feeding your muscles some extra strength. This may help your body heal faster and ease muscle straining.

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4. Change up your skincare routine

Caring for your skin is essential for a healthy body and mind. By taking care of it, you’re also practicing being kind to yourself and appreciating your body. You’ll also slow down excessive breakouts and will have much softer and more radiant skin. Now, with the media having the main word, you may be tempted to buy expensive products you see all over ads and stores. In truth, those products are full of chemicals, regardless of how natural they claim to be.

They may give temporary results, but soon, you’ll need more and more product to get the same results. They end up ruining your skin in the long run. This is why you should turn to all natural face and hair masks, as well as body scrubs. Make them yourself.

All you’ll need are a few ingredients you can find at home, such as honey and eggs. You can choose to create more elaborate masks and scrubs, or simpler ones, depending on what you aim to achieve with them. From detox to exfoliation to moisturizing, trust nature to take care of your skin and keep it vital and young.

Conclusion

Who said that you have to bend over backward just to be the better you? Good communication with yourself is essential, but so is kindness and turning yourself to nature. The modern world is full of toxins, be it in your food or environment, and with these tips, you’ll be sure to detox properly. Nurturing positive feelings and thoughts about yourself and the environment you live in will surely prove effective in making your life that much better.

Creating a Calm Space: Several Ways to Go Green in Your Bedroom

When it comes to creating an eco-friendly home, most people first think about waste management and installing separate bins in the kitchen. The bedroom is actually the last room in the house that anyone would think can be made green. In fact, many people take the concept too literally and just paint the bedroom green, which is a hilarious move. There are so many methods that you can use to turn the bedroom into an oasis of peace that is ecologically friendly. In the long run, this will ensure you sleep soundly and that your physical and mental health is not disturbed in any way. A calm sleeping space has never been closer.

Source: Unsplash

The bed area

You needn’t guess twice which piece of furniture is at the center of any bedroom. The bed is also the place where the change in your room will start. It is all about the material it’s made from, so a wooden frame should be the standard. The type of wood can even be bamboo, while you should look for companies that do not contribute to deforestation. They are responsible in the way that for each tree they cut down, they plant another one, so you know your bed did not destroy the environment in an irreversible way.

Speaking of the materials other parts of the bed are made from, latex is an excellent solution for your bed as it is renewable and it doesn’t impact the environment as other materials. In general, any modern material used for making the bed is acceptable as the manufacturers took care of the environment while making it. That is why memory foam mattresses are suitable both for nature and your body support while sleeping.

Second-hand furniture

Apart from the bed, there are bound to be other pieces of furniture inside your bedroom, like chairs, night tables or wardrobes. We are speaking about a lot of wood and you can’t always count on sustainable timber sources.  One way to protect the forests is to buy used furniture that is in good shape. Many people do this as excellent second-hand furniture is easy to find both are specialized stores and in online ads. Most of it is in pretty decent shape, so after some polishing, it will look as good as new.

Source: Unsplash

The lighting

The light bulb is the part of every room’s décor that people tend to skip while redecorating the room. They simply forget that the ceiling is the place where they can save a lot of energy by replacing the old incandescent bulbs. They are so inefficient that 95% of the energy they receive is used for emitting heat and only 5% for light. The energy-saving LED lights that are commonly used as replacements use different math, wasting only 5% of energy for heat and the rest for light. Furthermore, if you have a solid light source above your head, you won’t need any additional lamps around the bed or on the desk, so that’s another save of energy. Remember, minimalism goes well with eco-friendliness.

Introducing plants

You are fighting the battle to protect the lungs of the world by conscientious shopping but have you ever considered creating a forest of your own inside the bedroom? You need fresh air when you sleep and a small garden is better than an open window in winter. Instead of freezing under the sheets for the sake of fresh air, you can bring in some potted plants inside. Plants will do their thing (called photosynthesis) and pump in oxygen straight into the bedroom. Just make sure they have enough nutrients and that they are near a light source like the window. Depending on the type of houseplants you decide to introduce, they are going to be watered regularly. The best method for this is the use of a durable water spray gun that will disperse the water evenly around the entire pot, so the plant’s root system soaks it up gradually.

Source: Pexels

The walls and the floors

We might have been joshing about the color of the bedroom in the introduction but in reality, it is not all the same which color you use on the walls of the bedroom. We are not referring to the hue that much but rather to the chemical composition of the paint. There are many colors that have a high content of toxic chemicals that destroy the environment and your health. Try to avoid these by buying colors that are made from natural ingredients.

Pretty much the same goes for the floors. If you have a wooden floor in your bedroom, like parquet, then use epoxies and other chemicals that do not harm the environment. It might seem silly to take care of such unimportant matters but any toxic chemicals that get used in the house eventually find their way into the environment. That is why you have to prevent your house from becoming a source of such poisoning of nature outside. In addition, the therapeutical effects of eco-friendly material can be a real rehab for depression.

The smell of eco-friendliness

Unless you plant flowers in your provisional bedroom garden, your bedroom is going to require some pleasant scents inside. People recklessly buy those aerosols canisters that they use to spray the room with but these are highly detrimental for the environment. Instead of piling up tin cans that add to house waste as well, use essential oils to create the ideal atmosphere for sleeping. Lavender, chamomile, and even lemon oil are all ideal substances to freshen up the room without harming the environment. The best thing is that essential oils are cost-effective because their dosage is a single drop which is enough to make the entire room smell nice.

As you have seen from the methods listed above, your bedroom could be transformed into a hub of positive vibes that will not only help you fall asleep but protect the environment as well. You don’t need to spend a whole bunch of green bills to go green in your house.

Techniques to Combat Stress & Anxiety at Work

Source: Pexels

Stress and anxiety at work is a common phenomenon and it has been observed that 75% of the employees are slowing down on their performance because of this. To combat against stress and anxiety the first thing one should be doing is to initiate a personal wellness plan. Here are some of the techniques anyone can try and practice to reduce stress at the workplace:

1. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is one of the most effective techniques for fighting against anxiety. This technique helps you to acknowledge all of your worries that knocks your attention and let them go. It allows you to get in touch with your emotions and recognize how you feel.

2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a goal-oriented treatment that helps to change the patterns of behavior or the way people thinks. It makes them feel better, by overcoming the complexities. If you are suffering from stress and anxiety, start practicing CBT at your home or under the supervision of a therapist.

3. Be Your Own Advisor

Don’t be hard on yourself, while comparing with others. In our daily life, everyone has to face difficulties from different perspectives. Whatever the situation is, advise yourself as like you would advise any of your friend or child rather than putting yourself down. This approach influences one from getting frustrated for anxiety.

4. Immerse with the Environment

Source: Pexels

Shifting concentration to your surroundings can enable you to increase some point of view by moving your field of vision. This is a great approach to advise yourself that you are a responsible person and there is an entire world other than what’s happening inside your head.

5. Set Aside Worry Time

Every now and then stress can cause discomfort and anxiety and keep us away from doing things that we are supposed to do. At the point when this occurs, write down the reason why you are feeling stressed and try to get back to it later. When you get the chance to do so, you will find a lot more reasons behind why you were stressed and those will not be an issue any longer.

6. Ask Your Thoughts

Anxiety can make our thoughts to get scattered and go out of control. When you discover that the same thing is happening inside of you, just stop thinking by asking yourself some questions like “Is this stress reasonable?” or “What could be the worst impact of this?”.

7. Keeping Record

Maintain a notebook to list down the situations which make you feel most anxious and how you respond to them. Track your thoughts and feelings and how you react as a result; this can help you to understand your patience, triggers of anger and responses.

8. Taking Breaks

Source: Unsplash

Ensure you plan your day to empower yourself by taking brief breaks to take a quick walk. Stepping away from your workstation for some time to energize will help to manage stress and increase productivity.

9. Breathing Deeply

Get relaxed for a few minutes to focus on breathing deeply by slowly inhaling and exhaling. This can help loosen up your body and discharge stress and worries. Concentrate simply on breathing and don’t enable your brain to be freaking out.

10. Relaxing Your Muscles

Stress can create impacts on our body muscles. So, we need to understand how to relax to keep our body well. One method is to tense a gathering of muscles as you take in air through breathing and loosen up them as you breath out. With training, this strategy can help alleviate stress and anxiety.

Love yourself and keep in mind that stress and anxiety are nothing but the negative outcomes which only drags you from behind. You must have to go ahead ignoring the stress and anxiety following the mentioned tips.

Are you a wellness champion at your workplace?  Would like to find out how a corporate wellness app can help relieve stress and take your team’s health to the next level, contact CircleCare. CircleCare provides companies with a platform and tools to motivate their employees via positive reinforcements and rewards to establish and maintain healthy lifestyle choices.

Improve Intuition Through Meditation

Intuition – Or you may want to call it a sixth sense, instinct, gut feeling or inner guidance. It is a part of every being. It is to guide, protect, and to develop. You can push this intuition to confirm that the society says. The great thing is to cultivate something and to, unfortunately, lose the touch. Though it is a part of every existence, most often, we tend to ignore it due to the logical thinking overpowering our instinct. Many times, the outer noise (here the outer noise refers to views, opinions and freely available advice of others) is so loud, that our inner guidance cannot find its way.

I have been a meditation practitioner for the last eight years. In addition to popularly known benefits of meditation, such physical and mental wellness, controlling thoughts and emotions, calming down the mind, healing and many more; I found that it helps in developing intuition as well. That means you CAN listen to your inner guidance despite the louder sound of the outer world.

Talking in scientific terms, we experience different states of consciousness. Beta is a consciousness level (the awake state, we spend most of our time in this state of consciousness) alpha is awareness, Delta is a transcendental experience and theta is meditative trance. Among these mental states, the alpha state helps you memorize, learn, interact, and read the emotions, thoughts, and yourself. This state of consciousness also relates to meditation. By practicing meditation one can control the alpha state, and thus control intuitive process.

Let’s see, how different meditation practices help us in developing our intuitive sense.

Third Eye Meditation

The 3rdeye or the 6th chakra is between the eyebrows and is in the brain centermost area. This is the pineal gland location. This is associated with clairvoyance and intuition. Many scientists and successful people owe their success to meditation practice.

How to Practice Third eye Meditation

Choose a safe, quiet and dark place. Lie down or sit in a comfortable position and focus on breathing. There is no need to alter your breathing pattern, let it happen naturally. Putting your awareness on the forehead, between your eyes, you can direct your consciousness such that you can keep your eyes closed. In case you find the mind wandering, just gently bring back your attention to the 3rd eye. In the beginning, it’s ok to do it just for 2-5 minutes and gradually you can increase the duration.

Trataka

Trataka is the candle meditation.

  • Light in front of the candle and gaze the flame. Keep a steady gaze and do not try to blink your eyes.
  • In case your eyes water, focus the image on the 3rd eye center so that your eyes look inward and upward. Once you do not see the candle image with closed eyes, you may gaze at the candle.

Indigo Meditation

You may visualize the Indigo color as violet or deep blue at the pineal gland beginning and expand it past your head. The chakra expands past the physical body. You can imagine the head radiating light and with every breath out, you can visualize the light as bigger as it fills the entire body.

You may deeply inhale and with every exhale expand and push the indigo light past your physical body, allow growing until it fills the entire room, whole house and your entire neighborhood, country, city, continent, globe and the universe reaching your imagination.

These are some easy methods to practice meditation to develop intuition. If you are still unable to let go of your thoughts and relax, try practicing with the help of guided meditation. Simply follow the instruction given in audio to relax your mind. After practicing for a few days, you will be able to control your wandering mind.

Intuition may be felt in the gut. If you had a “gut” feeling turning out to be correct, start to feel into your body. Breathe to get aligned and centered. In case you have questions about anything, you require guidance or answers; you may ask your body. Your body is wise and intuitive, it can feel your logical mind, and things cannot have a grasp.

Whether you need guidance for choosing your life partner, need career advice or need to overcome any confusion at any stage of life, your Intuition can be your most trusted adviser, guide or a best friend. You will never regret trusting your gut feeling.

About the author

This is a Guest Post by Jais. She is a meditation practitioner, a multi-passionate entrepreneur, creative-writer, Fitness enthusiastic confident, Nature Lover, Animal Lover, an observer, a traveler on the path to self-discovery. Focused on Raising Happiness level and simplifying life. Love to Live. Live to Love. She blogs at http://www.getsethappy.com